Sinnonhyeon café date with my wife, Shine Muscat ade: Upper and Under

A Gangnam dessert café I picked for a weekday afternoon with my wife: Upper and Under

On a weekday afternoon, for the first time in a while, my wife and I met up in Gangnam to enjoy something sweet and have a cozy date. After agonizing over where to go, we settled on Upper and Under (UPPER AND UNDER), a regular hot spot among Gangnam Station cafés that's famous by word of mouth for its top-notch desserts.

How do you get to Upper and Under, and what does it look like outside?

Upper and Under is in an alley near Sinnonhyeon Station; turn in and walk a little way up the slope and you're there. The unique, elegant building stood out from far away.

With its airy, open glass walls, modern architecture and a clean-lettered UPPER AND UNDER sign, the place gave off serious stylish-café vibes before we even stepped inside. The simple brand name is engraved under the awning at the 1st-floor entrance, which instantly won over my wife, who loves a clean look.

On the side of the building, a stylish red brick wall and a charming iron staircase make a lovely photo spot.

Lush green leaves over the stairs added a romantic, storybook-café feeling.

What's the mood of the 2nd-floor window sofa seats at Upper and Under?

Up on the 2nd floor, the wide windows gave a homey view of a Gangnam alley. Sitting on a cozy, plush sofa and looking outside, we forgot we were in the middle of a busy city. It was a perfectly cool, comfortable place to relax.

The air conditioning was blasting too, so all the heat and humidity vanished and everything felt wonderfully dry.

What desserts are in the bakery display at Upper and Under?

The bakery display holds a wide range of baked goods, from financiers (small almond-butter cakes) to round canelés (caramelized custard pastries) and madeleines. The moment we walked over to choose, we couldn't help exclaiming.

Antique English-language books and trays of colorful baked goods were laid out like artworks in a gallery. The variety was so huge that it truly lived up to being a dessert mecca among Sinnonhyeon Station cafés.

The golden, freshly baked plain financiers in particular were so glossy that you could practically see the crisp outside and moist inside. Just looking at them made my mouth water.

What we ordered with my wife: raspberry cake, stick financier, salted caramel, Shine Muscat ade

The setup was the perfect example of eating with your eyes first. After some deliberation, we ordered the tangy wild raspberry cake, a stick financier sprinkled with almonds, the rich and sweet salted caramel, and a refreshing Shine Muscat (green grape) ade.

The color combination of everything neatly arranged on a black tray looked luxurious and appetizing.

How does the Shine Muscat ade taste?

My wife's Shine Muscat ade came in a clear glass with dried orange slices, fresh cherries and fragrant rosemary prettily arranged on top. With the first sip, the popping fizz and the zingy freshness unique to Shine Muscat filled my mouth. It washed away the whole day's fatigue, the kind of taste that makes you exclaim out loud.

What kind of drink is the salted caramel?

The salted caramel I chose was topped with smooth, rich homemade cream and plenty of crunchy, nutty Lotus cookie and crumble. I scooped up the cream first with the little wooden spoon that came with it. It melted like cotton candy, not cloying at all, and the salty, nutty, sweet flavor just burst out.

After enjoying the textbook sweet-and-salty cream, I mixed it into the bittersweet drink below and drank it, and it was honestly heavenly, a moving taste.

Texture of the raspberry cake

The raspberry cake from Upper and Under also had a fluffy, moist sponge topped with a thick layer of sweet-tart homemade jam and soft pink cream. The texture was seriously a work of art.

We paired the sweet desserts with the cool, deep-flavored Shine Muscat ade and salted caramel, and my wife said it was by far the best dessert she'd had lately, her fork never stopping.

Is Upper and Under worth recommending as a date café in Gangnam?

Overall, the stylish, trendy atmosphere, the cool, comfortable indoor temperature where you don't break a sweat, the friendly staff taking our orders and, above all, the overwhelming quality and taste of every single dessert made it a weekday afternoon that was better than expected in every way.

The two of us charged up on sugar until we were stuffed and finished our dessert time happily. If you want a good time with foolproof top-quality desserts and a stylish atmosphere near Sinnonhyeon Station or in the heart of Gangnam, I sincerely and strongly recommend Upper and Under.

Upper and Under store info

• Name: Upper and Under (UPPER AND UNDER)
• Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in an alley near Sinnonhyeon Station (Basement 1, 1st and 2nd floors)
• Features: Desserts and baked goods specialist, spacious and comfortable window views, group seating available